Columbia aims for another title

Thursday

Nov 29, 2012 at 6:26 AMNov 29, 2012 at 6:42 AM

And then there were two.

And then there were two.

Five weeks and 30 teams later, only Columbia Central (12-2) and Beech (14-0) are left standing in the Class 5A playoffs as the two teams will clash in the BlueCross Bowl at 7 p.m. Friday in Cookeville.

This will be the second state championship game between the schools in four years as Beech defeated Columbia 47-33 to claim the 2009 championship. A year later, the Lions defeated the Buccaneers’ arch rival Hendersonville 28-7 to win the 2010 title.

Now the teams have returned to Cookeville each hoping to claim a second championship in the span of four years.

“I just think it’s going to be a great football game,” said first-year Columbia coach Howard Stone. “It’s going to come down to whatever team plays the hardest the longest.”

Beech coach Anthony Crabtree, who guided the Buccaneers to the 2009 state title, is also thrilled to back in the BlueCross Bowl.

“We’re very blessed to be here,” Crabtree said. “We’re tickled to death to have the chance to play for a state title again.”

The matchup features two of the most prolific offenses in the state as Beech comes in averaging 41.4 points per game, while the Lions have scored 35.3 points per game.

“I really believe that we are the only team in the state of Tennessee capable of matching (Beech) offensively as far as scoring,” Stone said. “I really do.”

While Crabtree isn’t a huge fan of shootouts, he understands that the potential exists for one Friday.

“I’d rather we’d score a lot and they don’t score many, but usually it doesn’t work that way,” Crabtree said. “As long as we win, it doesn’t matter if it’s a high-scoring game or a low-scoring game.”

The Buccaneers, who are an 8-point favorite according to Sonny Moore’s power ratings, have done most of their scoring behind the running of Jalen Hurd. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound junior, who was named Class AAA Mr. Football Back of the Year on Monday, has had a phenomenal season rushing for 2,963 yards with 36 touchdowns.

Hurd is averaging 227.9 yards per game and needs just 106 yards to break the TSSAA’s single season rushing record of 3,068 set last year by Powell’s Dy’Shawn Mobley, who now plays for the University of Kentucky.

Columbia defensive coordinator Wesley Duncan hopes his team will continue its recent trend of neutralizing their opponents best player, especially in the second half.

“I told the kids they are like Rocky Balboa ­­­­­­­— they take everyone’s best shot and they keep on coming,” Duncan said. “Once we are able to settle down, we start to make plays. That’s what we’ve got to continue to do.”

Hurd isn’t Beech’s only offensive weapon as quarterback Lincoln Kentizer has completed 74 of 113 passes for 1,180 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Dametris Watson is the team’s leading receiver with 27 catches for 503 yards and seven touchdowns.

“Our offensive line has done a tremendous job blocking all year long,” Crabtree said. “Without those guys we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Columbia’s defense has had great success this year, allowing just 13.7 points and 240.4 yards per game. The Lions’ defense is spearheaded by linebackers Malik Church and Maverick Dickinson, who have 134 and 113 tackles, respectively. The duo has also combined for 30 tackles for loss.

While Columbia hopes it can slow down the Buccaneers, the Lions are fully capable of putting lots of points on the board.

“We feel like we’re going to need to get in the 40s to beat them,” said Columbia offensive coordinator John Moore. “Obviously, we’re not going to shut them out.”

The Lions’ offense is led by quarterback Matthew Markham, who has completed 129 of 206 passes for 2,233 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Markham’s top target is Dre Hall, who has 62 receptions for 1,084 yards with 10 touchdowns. Ian McNeece has added 43 catches for 812 yards and three touchdowns.

The Lions’ running attack is led by Chris Martin, who has garnered 1,141 yards with 19 touchdowns. Martin needs just 95 yards to pass Ronnie Pillow and become the school’s all-time leading rusher. Pillow currently holds the record with 3,355 yards.

“The key for us, like it has been all year, is to establish our run game,” Moore said. “If we get in a situation where we have to throw every play, it’s going to be a long night for us. We’ve got to be able to run the ball.”

Should the game come down to the wire, the Lions have an extra weapon in sophomore kicker Nolan Bone, who has hit 7 of 8 field goals, including a 42-yarder.

With all the hype now coming to an end, the Lions are ready to try and bring another state championship home to Columbia.

“I don’t want to leave any regrets out there,” Markham said. “I just want to go out there and leave everything I’ve got out there on the field.”